However, Culpan is now reporting that HTC CEO Cher Wang is currently in Taipei, and that "parts of [HTC's] HQ [have been] blocked off as evidence [that] the Google deal [is] to be announced in 1-2 days." (He clarified that this information has not been verified as of yet.)

He also tweeted that a local media outlet, Apple Daily, reported that Google will buy HTC's smartphone business, indicating that its Vive spinoff — which takes care of the virtual reality side of the business — will stay independent.

Another report from Focus Taiwan says that the original rumours mentioned HTC preparing a public space on the second floor of its headquarters "for a meeting with all staff members or an announcement of a major strategic reform," so there is a good chance that the things are linked.

HTC has been struggling for years financially, with shares falling 94% over the past six years. It would be fitting that a "major announcement" worth halting trade sharing could be something as big as a huge, potentially multi-billion acquisition.

Google has repeatedly expressed its interest in strengthening its hardware business— lately with the introduction of its Pixel-branded, self-designed lineup — which HTC itself has help to manufacture.

The company declined to comment via its investor relations web site, which looked like this: